Completed Preservation & Rehabilitation Projects

In 2010, the Florence Urban Renewal Agency awarded a total of $163,141 in grants to 39 Florence businesses to enhance the appearance and commercial viability of the urban renewal district.
The Preservation and Rehabilitation Program was announced at the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo February, 2010. The program was designed to promote the revitalization of Florence’s Urban Renewal District. The urban renewal program provided financial assistance to property owners and independent businesses that are tenants of commercial properties to encourage enhancing the appearance and commercial viability of the District. The program's objectives were:

• To improve the aesthetics of existing businesses and buildings
• To provide financial assistance for preservation and rehabilitation improvements to small business owners and/or tenants of commercial properties.
• To encourage urban renewal district preservation and rehabilitation improvements such as painting, awnings and changes to other exterior building features.

Commercial properties and/or businesses located within the designated urban renewal district were eligible. Funds were used for exterior façade renovation of commercial use buildings only. For purposes of this program “façade” was interpreted to
mean any exterior visible wall, so long as the front facing a public right-of-way is included as part of the improvements. Eligible improvements included, but were not be limited to, one or several improvement elements such as:

• Restoration of masonry, brickwork or wood and metal cladding
• Replacement or repair of architectural features
• Replacement or repair of awning(s)
• Installation or repair of exterior lighting
• Installation or repair of gutters and downspouts
• Window repair/replacement
• Structural support for façade only
• Entrance way modification
• New construction for façade treatments only
• Painting of exterior walls

All funding for the Preservation and Rehabilitation program has been distributed and the Florence Urban Renewal Agency are no longer accepting applications.